About Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Glenwood Springs is famous for hot springs! Nomadic Ute Indian tribes originally inhabited the area and frequently bathed and soaked in the hot mineral waters. The history of the Iron Mountain Hot Springs property dates back to 1896, when the West Glenwood Health Spa opened. Over the next 100 years, it changed hands multiple times and also operated as the Wash Allen Bathhouse, the Gamba Mineral Springs, the Glenwood Health Spa, the Fort Defiance Bathhouse and the Iron Springs Spa.

Originally named Defiance, Glenwood Springs was established in 1883 and incorporated on September 5, 1885.

As of 2018, the population is estimated to be 9,917.

The elevation is 5,761 ft (1,756 m), with coordinates of 39°33′2″N 107°19′29″W.

Famous people who have once called Glenwood Springs home include Kid Curry — Wild West outlaw and gunman; Doc Holliday — Wild West gunfighter, gambler, and dentist; Jim Irwin — U.S. Air Force Colonel and NASA astronaut; the eighth man to walk on the moon; Jack P. Juhan — U.S. Marine Corps Major general, who served in World War II and Korean War; Bobby Julich — bike racer and silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics; Scott McInnis — former U.S. congressman from Colorado; Blake Neubert — artist; Sarah Schleper — Alpine skier; and John David Vanderhoof — former Colorado governor.

The town is located in the narrow mountain valleys that host the confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River. The surrounding terrain is steeply contoured on all sides. Reddish colored sandstone cliffs surround the city. In fact, Glenwood is one of the most walkable towns in America, a distinction that has been recognized by PBS and Walking Magazine, including in the Walking Town Hall of Fame. The town's dense amenities and constrained geography make it a natural environment for pedestrians and cyclists, with extensive trails running throughout and around the city.

There are two main historic hotels in town, the Hotel Colorado and Hotel Denver. Both date back to the early 19th century and each are within walking distance to downtown.

The Hotel Denver is directly across the street from the Amtrak Station, along with the Glenwood Canyon Brewpub, and the Hotel Colorado is within walking distance across the Colorado River via the pedestrian bridge.

There are several budget-friendly hotels in town, including The Hotel Glenwood Springs, which offers value-priced rooms, specials and packages along with an indoor waterpark for the kids, and Silver Spruce Inn, featuring great rates, free wifi, and hot breakfast.

There are multiple lodging properties that offer pet-friendly accommodations, including the Residence Inn by Marriott, Hotel Colorado, The Hotel Glenwood Springs, and Hotel Denver.

Some of the best attractions in Glenwood include Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Hanging Lake, Hotel Colorado, and Doc Holliday's Grave.

Some of the most popular things to do in Glenwood with kids include taking the Glenwood Gondola to the top of Iron Mountain and spend the day enjoying the thrill rides and cave tours of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, whitewater rafting on the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon or on the Roaring Fork River, or spend the afternoon swimming at the indoor waterpark located in The Hotel Glenwood Springs.

Some of the best restaurants preferred by locals include Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse, The Pullman, Brava Modern Trattoria, Riviera, CO Ranch House, Smoke Modern Barbeque, and Glenwood Canyon Brewpub.

The award-wining Glenwood Canyon Brewpub offers homemade hand-crafted brews, including seasonal brews. Casey Brewing and Blending's beers are created with over 99% local Colorado ingredients and 100% bottle conditioned.

The Grind, Glenwood Canyon Brewpub, and Vicco's Charcoalburger Drive-In serve the best burgers in town.

Situated along the Colorado River, Iron Mountain Hot Springs features 16 soaking pools of differing size, shape and temperature. Two of the soaking pools are ADA compliant, and each of the pools are connected with heated walkways to keep your toes warm in the winter. Open year round, Iron Mountain Hot Springs is a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

It is unusual to find a hot springs in Colorado that doesn’t treat its water with chlorine. At Iron Mountain Hot Springs, the water is pumped and stored in one of two insulated fiberglass holding tanks. After it leaves the holding tank, the water is pumped through a series of sand filters. The sand removes any sediment, including algae, that may be in the water. The result is crystal-clear water clarity in our soaking pools. Water replenishes every two hours which alleviates the need for chlorine and chemicals.

No, Iron Mountain Hot Springs does not close for inclement weather, however, we do recommend visitors take shelter inside the Bathhouse when lightening is within five miles of Glenwood until the storm has passed. In fact, one of the best times to experience the pools is during a snowfall in winter.

Some of the most common reasons for soaking in natural mineral waters are to revitalize the skin, calm the nerves, detoxify the body and refresh the oxygen levels. Many also turn to thermal mineral waters for health issues such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, skin conditions, depression, respiratory illnesses including asthma, and locomotor and circulatory diseases. Soaking in hot water can be relaxing and rejuvenating, and can help ease sore muscles and reduce stress. The jets from a whirlpool spa offer additional benefits in the form of hydrotherapy massage that can target specific parts of your body by simply moving around in the spa. There are more than 14 different minerals found in the analysis of the water at the Iron Mountain Hot Springs. The five most abundant minerals in the soaking pools are iron, sulfate, chloride, sodium and calcium. Iron and sulfate are known for their relaxing qualities.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs’ water is sourced from three naturally-occurring springs—Hobo, Gamba and Redstone. The three natural hot springs emerge onto the Iron Mountain Hot Springs property with average water temperatures ranging from 105 to 108°F. The water is collected in the pump house, which is located behind the café, and then cooled to different temperatures before it’s distributed to the 16 soaking pools. The temperatures in the soaking pools range from 98 to 108°.

On average, Glenwood receives 45 inches of snowfall per year.  The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

The average temperature during summer is typically in the 80's, but isn't uncommon for temperatures to reach into the 90's. The average high in July is 87ºF, and the average annual high is 61ºF.

Winters can be cold in the Roaring Fork Valley with the low temperature in January, on average, is 13ºF. During the day in January, the average high is 35ºF.

The town typically receives 18 inches of rain, on average, each year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

On a good day without traffic, Glenwood Springs is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes from Denver, Colorado heading west on Interstate 70. When there's traffic heading into the mountains from Denver, however, it can take as much as 4 hours or longer. The same can be said when heading back to Denver, especially during the winter ski season. It isn't out of the ordinary to take as long as 5 or 6 hours to return to Denver.

Traveling via I-15 N and I-70 W, Glenwood Springs is approximately 222.6 miles from Colorado Springs, which will be about 4 hours of driving time without traffic.

It will typically take 1 hour and 3 minutes to drive 61 miles on I-70 W from Vail.

Aspen is located 41.3 miles south of Glenwood Springs, and will typically take 54 minutes of driving time via CO-82 W.

Glenwood is located 86.5 miles northeast of Grand Junction via I-70 E. The typical drive time is 1 hour 20 minutes.

The Eagle/Vail Airport is located in the town of Gypsum on the eastern end of Glenwood Canyon, approximately 27.5 miles away. The typical drive time via I-70 W is 35 minutes.